How to be a Hacker

Most of the students who are interested in computers want to learn hacking or want to be a hacker. But they always find it difficult how to start and what to learn to be a hacker. Before thinking too much, you need to know that there is a big difference in between hacking and computer tricks. If you can apply 2-3 computer tricks, it does not make you hacker. I have seen many people who can apply some VLC tricks, some registry tricks and then claim to be a hacker. Hacking is beyond the computer tricks. You should know what is hacking. You should also know how to think different and how to analyze things.. In this post, we will discuss every aspect of hacking and how to be a hacker.

What is Hacking?
Hacking is the practice of getting unauthorized access of a system, network or resources. Hacking is the breaking authentication and authorization.

Person involved in hacking is called hacker. Hacking is not always illegal. Companies hire hackers to break their security to know the security holes in their security systems. This kind of hacking is called Ethical Hacking which is not done by legal cause.

There are few possible characteristics that makes one a hacker

Person who thinks different

Person interested in hacking and cracking

Person who can learn programming quickly

Person who enjoys doing programming rather than its theory

Person who loves computer and Internet

Person interested in how computer things, website and network devices works

Person who only use tools to break system or network and limited to the scope of tools is called cracker.

How to Start Learning to Be a Hacker?

First of all, you need to know that there is no trick or overnight process to be a hacker. I have got so many requests for Ethical hacking tricks, Hacking tricks and tools but Hacking is beyond the tricks and tools. Tricks and Tools are the small part of it. If you really want to know how to be a hacker, you should follow many things with dedication and practice so many things a lot.

Follow these things to be a hacker:

Decide What Hacker You Want to Be

Hacking is not a small area. You should decide your area of interest like web hacking, network hacking or system hacking. You can learn all but you can be master in only one of these. Computer hacking was most popular form of hacking. But, now people are more interested in web hacking because all want to hack Gmail and Facebook. You can also find easy to use automatic tools for website hacking. So, people generally turn to web application hacking.

Learn Programming

Programming is the most important thing which you should learn. If you should learn C, Java, PHP, Python, JavaScript and few other programming languages. If you are good in programming, you will be able to create your own scripts to help you while hacking. It also helps you in analyzing things. If you are a good programmer, you can easily understand how web application or software works. It helps you in breaking it.

You should also learn Linux which is the favorite OS of hackers.Either you are interested in network hacking or system hacking, Linux helps a lot. After learning Linux, switch to BackTrack. BackTrack comes with all latest penetration testing tools and hacking tools.

Tools Have Limits, So Learn How Things Work

Before hacking a authentication and authorization, you should know how it works. If you do not know how it works, you can not break it. Hacking tools have a limit. It can work only for the pre-defined cases. Suppose an XSS tool, it can only find limited cases of XSS, for complicated XSS, you should know how web application and JavaScript works.

If you are into network hacking, you should learn how packet transfers in network, how protocol works and how network devices works. Similar cases are with web application and system. So, start exploring how stuff works.

Buy Some Books to Help You in Initial Stages

There are many nice books are available which you can buy to learn hacking. These books will guide you step wise step. You can follow these books and start learning things.

Books can only guide you. You should also try it in your system and practice things to be a master in it.

Subscribe Monthly Magazines of Security

You should also be interested in what is new in security world. For this, you can either subscribe to security magazine or follow security blogs. There are many popular blogs which can help you.

How Long it Takes to Be a Hacker

It depends on your talent. It depends on how quickly to start learning things. You cannot learn things in a night. You need to have patience and dedication. Learn things, apply and see how it works. Take reference of books, join good forums and ask experts. In general it takes 1 year to 2 year to be an expert in hacking.

Practice is the key factor. You can not be a hacker just by reading books and learning about tools theoretically. You should try to focus on practicals. But never try things on big websites or networks. It may create trouble for you.
Do Certifications to start Career As Ethical Hacker

If you want to be an ethical hacker to start your career in hacking, you can join some good security certifications curses. CEH is the most basic certification by EC-Council. Other certifications are ECSA, CHFI, CISSP and many other. There are many good institutes to help in building career as security professional.

I am sure now you know how to be a hacker. Follow the above mentioned things with dedication. Start learning things. If you have any question, feel free to comment.